What are the greatest civilizations of all time?

[siredgar]

Oh, yes and the Indians "invented" the number zero. LOL! There must be an ironic twist there.

If the greatest things a population of hundreds of millions of people can come up with is the number zero, chess, the peace movement, yoga, and Hinduism, then it should be punished and ranked lower.

[Dauphin]

Personally I think that using cultural diveristy as a yardstick of a civilization is overated. You are really just rating them on the number of idiosyncrasies they have. After all isn't that all culture really is?

Acheivements are far more important IMHO.

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by Sagacious Dolphin
Personally I think that using cultural diveristy as a yardstick of a civilization is overated. You are really just rating them on the number of idiosyncrasies they have. After all isn't that all culture really is?

Acheivements are far more important IMHO.

IMO a civs culture is defined by the concepts unique to that civ from two standpoints. There are concepts that define that civ to the people within the civ but there are also the concepts that define that civ to people from outside of that civ (and they're not necessarily the same thing).

[Dauphin]

What you are describing is basically self-definition versus stereotyping. When all is said and done. they are simply methods od describing idiosyncrasies, no?

Either way, in my book it does not impact on ones greatness as a civilization as much as other things do.

[SpencerH]

I think idiosyncracy is the wrong term in that it is too limited in scope. Metaphor, in the sociological sense, is a better term. I think one reason that this discussion goes around and around on various threads is because of the lack of definitions.

Its not that I necessarily disagree with you, but again "greatness" has to be defined. If you compare a polynesian island culture to western europe with respect to technological advancement then it seems reasonable to say that the western european civ is greater. But if greatness is defined by the happiness of the people (whatever that is) or absence of war and crime then the reverse may be true.

[dervish]

Well, if you ask me what the greatest civilization of ALL TIME is, you know what my answer would be??? - Right, you all sprang up from the primitive cave civilizations of the barefoot people.

[siredgar]

Haha, three days later and no one has offered any evidence of the Indians having established one of the greatest civilizations of all time! I still don't know how they could be possibly ranked in the top 10...

[dervish]

Which Indians do you mean American Indians or Asian Indians?? Asian Indians have strongest cultural stamina (to oppose flipping over to other culture) or at least stronger than AmerIndians who already flipped over to the AmerEnglish. And Asian Indians have their own distinguishable culture that resists OK to both EuroEnglish and AmerEnglish. Do you understand it?

[Rosacrux]

Originally posted by siredgar
Haha, three days later and no one has offered any evidence of the Indians having established one of the greatest civilizations of all time! I still don't know how they could be possibly ranked in the top 10...

if you don't consider this

- Same goes for India. I can't understand Siredgar's objections, surely the Indians are quite above the Anglo-Saxon culture the English and American represent. They got a 5000 year culture and history behind them and untill you baby-civs (with less than 800 and 200 years of distinct history respectively) go past that point, you have no right of judging them.

as "evidence", then I think you got a serious problem. There is no need for evidences other than the pure existence of said culture for more than 5000 years

[grapedog]

Well, if it was for like Civ IV, then I would have to say, in no order.

China
England
Rome
Greece
Spain
Celts/Scotland(one of the few countries to defend against the Angle Germans, Romans and Vikings(Picts(Pre-Celts)) and retain their own distinct culture, even if it wasn't influential by itself).
Japan
Mongols
Aztecs
Myans
Germany
Russia
Egyptians
America
France
Africans
Vikings
Babylonians

those would be the ones i want at LEAST...

[History Guy]

The Phoenicians were an interesting race as well. The only thing I hate about them is the fact that they had a love for passing their babies "through the flames", aka sacrificing them to 'Moloch'. I admit it ain't too much better than what some "civilized" groups do today, but it was pretty bad. In fact, when the Carthaginians were attacking Rome, the Romans liked to say that, whatever may happen, they would not lose the war, as they would not lose against baby killers.

[trickey]

where is canada. *ducks as rocks come flying throug the window from accrose the border*

[siredgar]

Originally posted by Rosacrux

if you don't consider this as "evidence", then I think you got a serious problem. There is no need for evidences other than the pure existence of said culture for more than 5000 years

No, I'm sorry I don't have a "serious problem", but it sounds like you may have one.

Using your logic, civilizations would be ranked by the number of years in existence. If that was the case, then England, Rome, and the United States would not be ranked up there. And yet, we all know that power and influence are the most significant factors. If not, wouldn't Korea which has also had 5,000 years of history would be ranked in the top 10 by these same posters, too?

Anyhow, please look up the word evidence and show me some if and when you can find it. Terribly sorry, but yoga, the "peace movement" (quite ironic considering India and Pakistan are on the verge of war), and the number zero (LOL) don't quite do it for me.

[siredgar]

Originally posted by trickey
where is canada. *ducks as rocks come flying throug the window from accrose the border*

This is a valid question considering that the Americans are considered a separate civilization and yet the Canadians are often overlooked.

I think that this is partly because Canada has long been within the influence of the British Empire and only since the end of World War II has gotten out of that only to move closer to the U.S.

Anyhow, the Brazilians are probably more likely to be ahead of the Canadians if more "modern" civilizations were to be added to any list.

[Rosacrux]

Originally posted by siredgar
Anyhow, please look up the word evidence and show me some if and when you can find it. Terribly sorry, but yoga, the "peace movement" (quite ironic considering India and Pakistan are on the verge of war), and the number zero (LOL) don't quite do it for me.

You consider the number "0" a minor invention? Yeah, right. Just shows how well the american education system works. Sorry, we are on a different level here.

Keep your ironic all-but-witty remarks to the time when your "civilization" shall stand in ruins... I presume that day isn't all that far.